In all cases, the products have to meet stringent standards for energy efficiency, sometimes even exceeding the federal Energy Star guidelines. That can mean the products will cost more.

The amount a taxpayer can claim is cumulative, not per year. So if you've already claimed the $500, you're out of luck, Kerns said.

Also note that it will be a delayed gratification. The credits are applicable toward taxes filed in April 2008.

What taxpayers will receive is a tax credit, meaning they subtract the amount from the tax owed, which is a better deal than a deduction, experts noted.

The IRS isn't sure how many people will claim the credits. But tax preparer Mike Eesley has a better feel. People are claiming the credit, but only as an afterthought, he said.

"To be honest, when you think about the cost of replacing all the windows, that's not a giant reward," Eesley said.

"It's a nice reward for those people who are doing these types of things to their homes, but I don't think by itself it's enough incentive to go out and replace these things."

The most common credit claimed is for windows and doors, Eesley said. He has yet to come across a claim for a metal roof.

Salesmen mention the credit when talking of new energy-efficient windows, said Mike Rosati, owner of Rosati Windows. But it's not a central pitch they make.

To qualify for the tax credit, windows must be Energy Star-compliant. Energy Star windows can have two or more glass panes, better quality frames or special coatings on the glass, according to the government.

Rosati's standard window employs double panes of glass using argon gas as an insulator to achieve their efficiency.

"I'm thinking if (the federal government) offered $2,500, we'd see lots of (buyers) rushing the door," he said.

One home improvement that wasn't on the original list for tax credits -- but was added in March -- is insulated garage doors.

Clopay Building Products in Mason has three lines of doors that qualify, spokeswoman Mischel Schonberg said.

"Honestly, people are just now finding out about the credit. It's kind of been a long process, and it's almost too soon to tell" whether sales have increased, Schonberg said.

The good news: If homeowners have installed the garage doors since Jan. 1, 2006, they can get the credit. The installer can provide a certificate proving that the door qualifies, she said.

The doors that Clopay advertises for the tax credit feature polystyrene insulation melded with heavy-gauge steel. Along the door's edge, special seals prevent heat from escaping.

"Fall is a big sales cycle for us. We typically see a spike in the September and October time frame," Schonberg said. "We hope (the credits) will encourage them to upgrade and install now."

Prices on the qualifying door models range from $500 to about $3,500.

kkidder@dispatch.com

"It's a nice reward for those people who are doing these types of things to their homes."

Mike Eesley tax preparer

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